For most people, sports betting is a hobby in itself. However, for some, it is a real business. In this article, we will try to give you the best tips on how to master this concept.

The ABC’s of sports betting

First of all, it is important to note that playing sports betting can quickly become addictive: only use money that you can afford to lose and never borrow. This is a concept that is applicable to all online gambling. Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. When you are a beginner bettor and you are looking to develop your expertise, knowing how to manage your bankroll is paramount. There is no such thing as luck or bad luck.

You will be facing bookmakers who hire hundreds of people with powerful probability tools for multitudes of events. As you can see, you need to be at least a little prepared. You will have to use techniques and methods specific to sports betting if you want to increase your winnings in the long run. To be honest, knowledge of the sport is not a prerequisite for your success. It can even be limiting if you let your feelings get the better of you: for example, don’t constantly bet on your favorite team. Successful sports betting is a long-term process. It’s not about watching a game with your friends and opening your app to place a bet.

To be successful, gamblers spend hours on end planning a bet. They study the numbers and information in great detail. This is why most people tend to lose all their money: they have no strategy and bet without thinking, which is counterproductive. It’s important to remember that you have to be satisfied with a few dollars. Forget the mindset of getting rich quick; every profit is a real plus. You may also have long periods without profits. You have to accept that you won’t win every one of your bets!

Choosing the right online betting site

Choosing the right site means first of all choosing a site that has been approved by ARJEL, the French Online Gaming Regulatory Authority. In addition, several other elements should be taken into consideration:

• a secure payment system that allows you to deposit and withdraw money transparently, without additional fees
• the bonus offered at registration
• the referral system
• the list of available events on which you can make your predictions (soccer, basketball, tennis, etc)

In France, there are many websites such as Unibet, Bwin, Betclic or Netbet that will allow you to make your choice. Also think about surfing on social networks: bookmakers allow you to win freebets. These are free bets that are offered regularly and give you the opportunity to play easily, without touching your bankroll.

Define a long-term strategy

If you are serious about betting, you need to think long-term. First of all, determine the starting amount of your bankroll; you should not bet more than 1% on each bet. Experts believe that with this limit, there is little chance that you will go bankrupt, even in bad times. As a result, it will take some time to increase your capital. But if you are patient and manage to stay the course, then you should do well.

Spotting the different values

Value is a simple concept but most bettors don’t know what it is. Spotting it is the consistent and systematic identification of overly high odds in order to profit from them. For example, for the PSG vs. Reims match, if the Parisians have odds of 1.55 while all the usual starters are present, there is a good chance that you are facing a value. As soon as you think that the odds are too high compared to what they should normally be, don’t hesitate. You have to outsmart the bookmakers to make a profit and get rich in the long run. Detecting value is the hardest thing to do in this business, you’ll need a lot of practice to evaluate it consistently. But remember, once you master this element, you will have a definite advantage in winning big.

Understanding how the odds are determined

Most of the time, bookmakers will not determine odds based on the possible outcome of a match, but on the probability of bettors betting on a certain outcome. Of course, it is not as simple as that, but in general, bookmakers will set their odds in such a way that bets are spread over the different possible outcomes. This does two things: firstly, the bookmaker is sure to win and secondly, punters who know how to spot good values can make the odds work. That’s why it’s really imperative that you learn to master this strategy.

Don’t let your emotions get the better of you

Keeping your emotions in check is probably the hardest thing to do in sports betting. Don’t let a recent loss take over your long-term strategy. Indeed, many players have the unfortunate tendency, after a loss, to rush to the first game to bet and try to recover the lost cash immediately. There is no better way to run out of money. The same is true if you start winning regularly and are in a positive spiral. There is often a tendency to get carried away and think, “I made a profit, I can swing some.”

No matter how small or large, a profit is still a profit. Remember, you’re playing for the long haul and every penny is good to go. Keep a cool head and stay serious.

Stop the combos

It’s true that it’s always tempting to combine 2, 3 or even 4 events to bet 10 Euros on 24 odds. It is so beautiful that it is often unlikely to pass. The combination is the trap you should avoid at all costs. Your selection should revolve around a single match that you judge to be a value. Again, over time, you will benefit greatly if you do this. Sure, you can win big by combining, but you’re also far more likely to end up with a 0 bankroll before you win.

In conclusion, there is no way around it: to succeed in betting, you have to work hard. You have to forget about winning the jackpot on each of your hands. It’s up to you to build your bankroll and make it last. There is no such thing as a sure bet, there is no such thing as zero risk. Develop the best strategy possible, accumulate profits and become a real bettor.